Mangalore, Oct 23, 2014: It was a historic day for the Shree Gokarnanatha Temple at Kudroli on October 23 when over 1000 widows offered special pooja at the Temple along with the four women priests on the auspicious occasion of Diwali.

Believed to be a path-breaking initiative by former union minister B. Janardhana Poojary, the widows and women priests offered pooja to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu. The widows later pulled the silver chariot of the Temple around the Temple precincts amid the beating of drums.

All the participants of this historic occasion received a saree, blouse piece, kum kum, flowers and a one rupee coin as prasadam on behalf of the temple.

Former union minister Janardhana Poojary led the entire proceedings. Speaking on the occasion, he said all such reform measures are being undertaken in the temple in tune with the ideals of Brahmashree Narayana Guru. The main idea is to ensure that widows do not remain neglected but be active and join mainstream society, Poojary further added.